By Jessica Szabo
WINNEMUCCA - Winnemucca residents who have experienced a loss due to suicide are invited to join the Survivor Support Group for Loss to Suicide.
"The Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Groups are a free service provided by various agencies and communities in the state of Nevada," said Humboldt County's coordinator Alaine Kliewer-Nye. "The self-help groups are for family and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide."
One of the group's primary goals is to provide support and validation for the feelings survivors experience in the aftermath of a loved one's suicide. This is accomplished through providing a safe space to talk about these feelings and other issues that have arisen, and fostering a sense of hope that each group member can and will survive his or her loss.
Any time a loved one dies, those left behind typically experience shock and numbness, followed by sadness that the person is gone, loneliness and anxiety over what life will be like without the person. Suicide survivors experience all of these things. Kliewer-Nye explained that when someone dies by suicide, guilt at failing to stop the act or not seeing the pain the deceased person was in, anger at oneself and anger at God are often present as well.
"We also experience feelings of denial in not believing our loved one is really gone," she added.
The Winnemucca group further provides a forum for members to learn new ways of coping from each other.
"Some positive coping skills people often employ are building gardens in memory of their loved one, spending time with friends and family, starting support groups and making their loved one's life count by spreading awareness of (the importance of) suicide prevention and the signs to look out for," Kliewer-Nye stated.
Attending in-person group meetings rather than simply delving into research at one's own desk has the added benefit of reducing isolation.
"Survivors of suicide tend to isolate due to the stigma that follows suicide, " Kliewer-Nye explained. She further noted that survivors may shy away from facing people out of anxiety and fear over possible stances people might take on the issue of suicide.
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month from 7 pm until 8:30 pm at the American Red Cross office located at 612 Melarkey St. Kliewer-Nye recommends calling her at (775) 427-7553 or e-mailing humboldtcoordinator@hotmail.com to make sure that a meeting has not been temporarily moved before attending.
Anyone who would like to support the group may also get in touch with Kliewer-Nye to discuss helping out with the memorial plot at the Community Garden. Those who would like to offer financial support in the fight against suicide may wish to make a donation to the Nevada Coalition for Suicide Prevention.
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